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Discussion on Ultra Sound Therapy Unit for Home Use
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Member:
ajudson1
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Posted on Monday, Sep 21, 2009 - 1:07 pm:
DrO,
I am going to be purchasing a home use Ultra Sound machine to use on my achilles tendons. I was wondering about it's usefullness, and any safety concerns regarding using it on my horses? The PT I am going to says it will be fine for use on ankles, knees, elbows, but not for deep tissues in our backs.
I am thinking it will be great on horses legs, especially tendons between the knees and hoofs!
It is a one MHz unit, here's the link:
https://shop.aidmyankle.com/product_info.php?products_id=32
Any comments appreciated, I know you can't "endorse" anything.
Thanks
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 22, 2009 - 7:57 am:
Angie, I have never felt the need to therapeutically ultrasound the tendons between the knees and hooves. What would you consider an indication for such a procedure? A small unit with low energy output is probably not going to hurt anything I am just uncertain how it might help. On the other hand a unit powerful enough to affect tissues is powerful enough to hurt tissues if not used properly.
DrO
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Member:
ajudson1
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 22, 2009 - 8:31 am:
DrO,
I thought it would be useful on strained tendons/muscles on horses, just as it is useful for tendons/muscles on me. I understand that a horses leg is different than my leg of course. Their lower leg is not as fleshy as my lower leg!
It has helped me with pain, and breaking up all the ouchies in my muscle fibers. And helping with the actual tendons also for swelling and scar tissue.
But if you've never found any reason to use US therapeutically, then that answer is good enough for me and I'll pass on using it on the horses.
My daughter says she don't want horse hair on it anyhow! ;-) And we will personally get plenty of use out of such an investment between my tendons, her basketball battered knees, ankles, and elbows, and hubby's ankles!
Thanks for the feedback,
Ang
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 22, 2009 - 9:48 am:
I guess I have problems with the lack of specificity of the problems you are describing and the lack of knowledge of the units power. Shockwave is a powerful ultrasound mode we often discuss on these pages. I get the feeling you are dealing with a lower power unit but don't know. Here is a recent review of treatment modalities for tendonopathies that includes some words about therapeutic ultrasound:
Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2008 Jul;466(7):1539-54.
Treatment of tendinopathy: what works, what does not, and what is on the horizon.Andres BM, Murrell GA.
Orthopaedic Research Institute, St George Hospital, University of New South Wales, Level 2 Research and Education Building, 4-10 South Street, Kogarah, Sydney, NSW, 2217, Australia. bandres@yahoo.com
Tendinopathy is a broad term encompassing painful conditions occurring in and around tendons in response to overuse. Recent basic science research suggests little or no inflammation is present in these conditions. Thus, traditional treatment modalities aimed at controlling inflammation such as corticosteroid injections and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory medications (NSAIDS) may not be the most effective options. We performed a systematic review of the literature to determine the best treatment options for tendinopathy. We evaluated the effectiveness of NSAIDS, corticosteroid injections, exercise-based physical therapy, physical therapy modalities, shock wave therapy, sclerotherapy, nitric oxide patches, surgery, growth factors, and stem cell treatment. NSAIDS and corticosteroids appear to provide pain relief in the short term, but their effectiveness in the long term has not been demonstrated. We identified inconsistent results with shock wave therapy and physical therapy modalities such as ultrasound, iontophoresis and low-level laser therapy. Current data support the use of eccentric strengthening protocols, sclerotherapy, and nitric oxide patches, but larger, multicenter trials are needed to confirm the early results with these treatments. Preliminary work with growth factors and stem cells is promising, but further study is required in these fields. Surgery remains the last option due to the morbidity and inconsistent outcomes. The ideal treatment for tendinopathy remains unclear. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II, systematic review.
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Member:
ajudson1
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 22, 2009 - 1:13 pm:
DrO,
I did state above the unit is 1 MHz. Let me add it has hi, lo, med settings, and 5 preset times for 5, 10, 15 minutes.
The study you so kindly took time to find and add here, seems consistent with what I have also read in regards to "fixing" my own long term tendon problems. Ultra sound helps with circulation on a deeper level, and may help the area heal. Most of what I read says more studies are needed.
I am calling going to PT quits as I feel my healing and repair has leveled off, and with activity, stretching, massaging my calves, soleus, and tendons, and the use of ultrasound, I can hopefully maintain my current level of fitness, which is 80% of what it could be. I don't believe I will ever be 100% due to my problems being long term.
My own research found that some things offer relief for a time, nothing though seems to be 100%. Even surgery is 50/50 on the outcome. May be better, be the same after.
Regarding my own horses, most issues of pain/swelling/stocking up seem to be lower limbs. My oldest mare has always had "wind puffs" but seems to be stocking up in general nowadays. I know she has some low ringbone also. So she is just breaking down from old age, and maybe US would give some comfort.
Gem, on the other discussion regarding how long to leave legs wrapped, has had on again, off again issues also, and also those tendons running down the back of the lower leg seem to be the areas of pain and mild inflammation.
If I were to use US on a horse, it would be after having a conversation with the company that makes the unit. I would have to also do massage after, possibly ice therapy before US.
I would never consider using such a device on myself or animals I am not 100% confident are safe to have that kind of treatment.
Don't worry DrO, I am very cautious in all I do with our bodies here, 2 legged and 4 legged. I would not US over any major organs, or my head!
I was just curious if it could be used on the horses, specifically lower leg tendons. If there was anything to worry about, or if it would a waste of time.
Another thing to note: From what I have read about US, doing the treatment at least daily, or more than once a day, is more helpful than say 3x weekly, which is what most PT turns out to be, for humans anyhow.
P.S., very sleep deprived today, too lazy to try to figure out what all the tendons are called in the lower leg, but I hope everyone gets what I am saying!
Another cup of coffee please...
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 22, 2009 - 6:41 pm:
Angie, the frequency is not the same as the power output, usually measured in joules. Think of it in terms of the volume on your stereo putting out just one musical note. That note would be the frequency of the unit. You can play that note very quietly or turn it up until it blows the speaker, this would be the power output.
DrO
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